Balinjera
Balinjera offers an authentic taste of Ethiopia in Tel Aviv, celebrating communal dining with delicious, traditional dishes and a warm, welcoming atmo...
Highlights
Must-see attractions
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Balinjera
Highlights
Must-see attractions
Balinjera offers an authentic taste of Ethiopia in Tel Aviv, celebrating communal dining with delicious, traditional dishes and a warm, welcoming atmosphere.
Reservations Recommended
Book your table in advance, especially during peak hours, to ensure a spot.
Share to Savor More
Consider sharing dishes to experience a wider variety of flavors.
Quick Facts
Cuisine
Ethiopian
Price
Mid-range
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences
Authentic Ethiopian Communal Dining
Experience the heart of Ethiopian culture with a communal dining experience, savoring flavorful dishes served on injera bread.
Vegan & Vegetarian Delights
A haven for vegans and vegetarians, offering generous portions of delicious and healthy traditional Ethiopian dishes.
Unique Flavors & Israeli Influence
Taste authentic Ethiopian cuisine with unique Israeli twists, like roasted eggplant with Ethiopian tahini.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Reservations Recommended
Book your table in advance, especially during peak hours, to ensure a spot.
Share to Savor More
Consider sharing dishes to experience a wider variety of flavors.
Embrace the Communal Style
Eat with your hands using injera for an authentic and enjoyable experience.
Try the Imported Beer
Complement your spicy dishes with their selection of imported beers.
Tips
from all over the internet
Reservations Recommended
Book your table in advance, especially during peak hours, to ensure a spot.
Share to Savor More
Consider sharing dishes to experience a wider variety of flavors.
Embrace the Communal Style
Eat with your hands using injera for an authentic and enjoyable experience.
Try the Imported Beer
Complement your spicy dishes with their selection of imported beers.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Balinjera is highly praised for its authentic and delicious Ethiopian cuisine, with many highlighting the communal dining experience and the friendly service. It's a popular spot for both vegans and meat-eaters, offering generous portions at affordable prices. While most reviews are overwhelmingly positive, some mention it can get busy, underscoring the need for reservations.
"Best Ethiopian food in Tel Aviv. It is right down the street from me in the Kerem and I crave to eat it almost every day. Unfortunately I can’t, but I would if I could. As a vegan it is an amazing option and it is relatively inexpensive. You get a vegan meal for two for 100 shekels.
I can’t say enough good things if you like this type of food. You get healthy (and healthy) portions. Treat your body right and enjoy."
Jason Marks
"Friendly spot to try Ethiopian food for the first time, vegetarian and meat
Eating options.
Best if you want to share your food and enjoy it with someone. Imported beer, they say it’s spicy but it’s really not, they have a hand washing station for before and after sessions
The whole plate was editable."
David Hall
"Delicious food. Fantastic service. Awesome location. Unique style. Perfect for vegans/vegetarians or meat eaters too. Balinjera has it all! Highly recommend it!"
Adam Kadmon
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Injera is a traditional Ethiopian sourdough flatbread made from teff flour. It's gluten-free and has a unique tart flavor, typically used as both a plate and utensil for eating meals.
Yes, Balinjera is highly recommended for vegetarians and vegans, offering a wide array of delicious and healthy traditional Ethiopian dishes.
It's advisable to make reservations, especially during peak hours, as the restaurant can get busy.
The Ethiopian tradition is to share dishes and eat communally with your hands, using the injera bread to scoop up the food.
Yes, Balinjera offers a variety of traditional meat dishes alongside their popular vegetarian options.
Yes, Balinjera is a kosher Ethiopian restaurant.
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Best Jewish food in Israel
Fanta Frada arrived in Tel Aviv from the desert city of Kiryat Malachi 17 years ago with a suitcase and a dream: “I wanted to introduce Israelis to Ethiopia – its food, its colors, its textures and its flavors,” she says. “I wanted to be an ambassador, to open people’s minds.” Frada’s Balinjera, a play on the words “ba li” (“I want” in Hebrew) and “injera,” the national dish of Ethiopia, a sourdough, spongey flatbread, serves mostly traditional vegetarian Ethiopian dishes. Frada also recently opened an Ethiopian art gallery next door.
Spice up your life: 5 best Ethiopian eateries in Israel
According to Balinjera’s owner, Fanta Pradal, in Ethiopian culture sharing a meal is an important social event and for this reason, she chose to name her restaurant Balinjera, “togetherness” in Amharic. This charming Ethiopian restaurant, located between Tel Aviv’s Yemenite Quarter and the Carmel Market, offers traditional Ethiopian dishes such as Tibs Balinjera (beef stir-fry with black pepper, onion and rosemary) as well as meals with Israeli influence like roasted eggplant with Ethiopian tahini.
Best Kosher Restaurants in Tel Aviv
Balinjera embodies the beauty of Israeli culture – diverse Jews sharing their traditional recipes from various parts of the world to create an inclusive and thriving society. Located in the heart of the lively Shouk, this typical and traditional address, housed in a lovely colourful setting, offers simple cuisine in the colours of Ethiopia. The short menu consists mainly of Injera, the large, gluten-free, teff flour patties topped with lentils, marinated meat, hummus and herb salad.
Six Unique Culinary Experiences in Israel – Kosher Options
If you love trying new foods, Balinjera is a perfect spot just outside of Shuk HaCarmel or the Carmel Market in Tel Aviv. Located in the Yemenite Quarter and steps from the beach, their super central location means you have no excuse to miss a meal made by Fanta, the owner of Balinjera.
6 Best Restaurants by the Carmel Market and Kerem Hateimanim, Tel Aviv
With about 2.5% of Israel’s population having Ethiopian Jewish heritage, Israel is one of the best places in the world to try high-quality Ethiopian cuisine. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by Balinjera (@ethiopianfoodrestaurant)
Balinjera: Authentic Ethiopian food in Tel Aviv - review
Balinjera represents what is so beautiful about Israeli culture – Jews who came from all corners of the globe sharing traditional recipes to create an inclusive, thriving and diverse society.
Eat Your Way Across the World in Tel Aviv
Balinjera serves authentic and tasty Ethiopian dishes all alongside traditional injera bread. Image: Instagram / @ethiopianfoodrestaurant. Location: Malan St 4, Tel Aviv-Yafo
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